Mish Mash Of Thoughts

A dreary day, but much needed rain, so I am happy!  I can remember my Mother saying, "We need a lot of rain in the fall and a good amount of snow in the winter. The spring flowering bushes need all that water or they won't bloom."  I know she was right.  My Forsythia bush and those of my neighbors, haven't bloomed fully for the last two springs.  The Spring of 2014, I had very few Lilacs, last spring was much better, at least for the Lilacs.  With El Nino', Michigan is suppose to have a much warmer, drier winter.  Less snow    The warmer part is okay for me, but I like lots and lots of snow!

Sorry to offend anyone with a birthday in November or February, but I really hate those two months.  Everything seems to me to be dying or dead.  Few days of sunshine.  Damp and cold.  UGH.  Maybe that's why I like snow so much.  It covers up the evidence that the earth underneath is dead!
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I got a nice Thank You e-mail from Karen.  I had made her a collage of her life and sent it to her for her birthday last Saturday.  I had fun doing it and she and the kids had fun looking at it.  To me, that's a winner.

  Thank goodness I am a picture saving, picture organizing, album person.  I had photos of her with all her grandparents, her great grandmother, her parents and her siblings.  All I had to do was get out the albums, scan the photos and save them in a picture file on the computer.

I did one for Pam and Mark and have one I am working on for Jen's birthday in December.
I am too, a good Momma--so there!
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Thinking back to October 28, 1988.  What a long time ago!  Seems like last week.  I married a man who "appeared" to be nice and very caring.

He stated on the wedding license he had been married once.  I found out two years later, I was his fourth wife!  Some of those marriages only lasting a few months.

A wolf in sheep's clothing shall we say?  He loved that I was so tolerant and non-judgmental and open to everyone I met.  Yes--I was, to my eminent downfall.

We arrived at our beautiful motel next to the Mackinaw Bridge and he got angry with me because I was fascinated with the view of the Bridge with all the lights on it, when I should have been zoned in on only his magnificent self.  Three days later in Munising at Scotties Motel, he got angry again because I was writing out a few postcards to send home.  He tore up the postcards, threw them in my face, stormed out of the room, took MY car and left--coming back at noon the next day so we could return home.

For the next 3.5 years, this White Supremacist, George Wallace loving, anti-government man kept me hostage.  Why did he marry me when I was all the things he hated?  I had money!  I had a good job!  He quit his the second month we were married.  He slapped me around, beat me, gave me black eyes, broke my cheekbone, and tried to choke me to death on a monthly basis.

Why did I stay so long?  Only a woman who has lived that kind of life will understand.  There is more terror in leaving than there is in staying.

If I had not had a friend who offered to rescue me, I probably would still be married to the ogre.  No--I'd probably be dead by now.  

Ogre is on his 7th wife and they "seem" happy, they've been married 15 years now.

I look quite pixalated, don't I?  That feeling probably should have been a clue!
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What would I do without my sister and brother-in-law?  They came down today and he insulated my ill fitting back door.  I put a sheet over it so it blends in with the wall.

Foggy, Foggy Night.

I haven't posted anything since Saturday?  What is the matter with me?

Nuttin, Honey!

Fall doldrums?  Full Moon?  Low barometric pressure?

Honestly, there is nothing to write about.

Sunday morning, I got up, took a shower, watched my program with Dr. David Jeremiah, played computer games and watched a couple of movies while I knitted and crocheted.

Monday morning, I got up, played computer games, did laundry, watched my Soap, ran up to Staples, watched The Big Bang Theory while I knitted and crocheted.

This morning, I got up after only 5 hours sleep.  I thought it was Wednesday all morning long.  My brain is in a fog.  We have a big rain storm coming in tonight and all day tomorrow.  Remnants from Hurricane Patricia.  I worked most of the day on getting my family genealogy book printed out, in preparation to take it to the printer place to get it punched and spiral put on.  I watched my Soap, and the news, while I knitted and crocheted. 

My phone rang once in the last three days.  It was Wal-Mart telling me my prescription is ready.

See what I mean?
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(My) Gerber Baby

This baby was born on a beautiful, sunny, 72 degree day.  Nearly a month late; when Momma became worried, the doctor told Momma she had “figured” incorrectly.  “There is no such thing as a ten month baby.  Just let Mother Nature take her course.” 

<I knew I had gotten pregnant New Year's Eve.>

So on that beautiful October day, baby was making her wish to be born apparent. Daddy and Momma got in the car and meandered to the hospital, taking the long way to enjoy the view of the autumn leaves on the trees.  Momma got checked in and settled.  The nurse said, “You are having back labor and what we call a “nester”.  It’s going to be quite a few hours.” 

3:30 pm--After an hour of nothing happening, Daddy decided to go to the cafeteria to get some lunch.  Momma decided to roll over on her back to take a nap. Sun streamed in the window, which had been opened to let in the warm breeze.

3:42 pm--Baby decided this was the perfect time, with no audience around, to sneak into the world.  Momma rang the nurse alert bell, nurse came in and heard baby crying, pulled back the sheet and said, “Oh my.  There’s a baby!  You had the baby…all by yourself?” Momma said, “I guess so.  I didn’t see any stork fly out the window.”   She acted like she was scolding me.

4:15--Doctor arrived, got his pen light out to check baby’s eyes, which were open and BROWN and following the light, then he checked her mouth, which had two tiny white teeth on the bottom row and doctor pronounced, “I think I now believe in ten month babies!”  Daddy came back up the hallway and said, “I hear a baby—real close by.”  Nurse stopped him at the door and said, “Yes.  Born in this labor room.  It’s a girl, but you can’t go in just yet.” 

4:45--Baby was taken to the nursery.  The nurse stopped in the hall to show Daddy.  Daddy came into room and said, “Oh my gosh.  You had the baby in here?”  Momma said, “Yeah, she just came—really fast.  I’m still kind of in shock and shaky.  Whew!  That was really something!”

Daddy sat down hard on the bedside chair and he and Momma just stared at each other and then they started laughing.  

Today, on her 54th birthday, her hubs got her a green and white wrist corsage and they went up to Michigan State (their alma mater) to watch the football game.

Tonight, on Face Book, there is a video that Karen's youngest son Stephen made for her.  He actually got the basketball coach Tom Izzo--world famous TOM IZZO!!!--to personally wish Karen a Happy Birthday, talked about her being an MSU alumni and how pleased he is that she attends most of the basketball home games. Then he went on to say how proud she should be of her "hard working" son and what a great job Stephen does in the IZZONE (the basketball cheering section).

I saw it and just about fell on the floor!! 

Obviously, Stephen won "Favorite Child of the Year" with that one!!

Blatant Promotion

Chris' latest pattern is now up on Ravelry.  If you want a quick, easy and beautiful baby afghan/blanket, this is a good pattern to use.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mile-a-minute-baby-blanket

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...and what did I do today?

While the bedding was in the washer and dryer, I crocheted and knitted.  Testing a Queen Size blanket with the same pattern as the baby blanket pattern and a man's winter hat with the most fun pattern of acorns!!!

Have I got the best life or what?

a Perfect Day

Jennifer's 3rd child, Alex, was 9 on Tuesday.

This evening, I took him out for his 

birthday one-on-one supper.

We had a wonderful time.

and I learned so much about him.

Alexander Chaston Oertel

How Many Times Have I Said--A Strange and Weird Day?

It rained "leaves" over night.

I got a frantic call from Dar at 10:45 this morning.

"Judy, my Dad just called me!  He never calls me at work.  He never calls anyone!  Go over there and see if he is all right and call me back!"
<"yessah boss">

I got my jacket on and my shoes.  I got the mail out of the mail box and walked down, figuring I'd tell him I was out getting my mail and decided to walk up to see how things were going.

I rang the doorbell.  Nothing.  No footsteps, but I could hear the TV.

It takes an old person quite a while to walk to the front door.  So, I rang the bell again.  Nothing.

So I opened the storm door and knocked--really hard and loud on the inside door.  Nothing.

I knocked again.  With my fist this time.  Nothing.

Maybe he is laying down?  Maybe he is in the bathroom?  Maybe he is taking a nap?

So I came back and called Dar.

"Oh, you should have just walked in.  The door isn't locked."

"I wouldn't walk into some one's house."

"I walk into yours all the time!"

"That's different.  I'd probably scare him!"

"Did you peek in any of the windows to see if you could see him?"

"No!"

"Oh gosh!  I wonder if he is all right."

"Well, I think you should come home.  Tell him you forgot your lunch or something and check on him."

"Good idea.  I'll do that."

GEEZ OH PETE!
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He's fine.  The house phone rang.  He didn't know how to answer it, and thought it was Dar.  So he called her on his cell phone, but didn't leave a message.  She saw the missed call, went into panic mode--per usual--and called me, instead of calling him back to see what he wanted.

She came home on the pretense she had forgotten her pills.  She also told him that the home phone is only for people to leave messages and for him not to answer it.

All was quiet in the neighborhood the rest of the morning.
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I watched my Soap and had a strange experience.  There are 3 young 10 year old kids on the show--have been on since they were 4.  Saw them just the other day.  Today on the Soap, the kids were suddenly 16 years old!  No one else has grown older and only moments had passed in the script, but overnight, these kids age-progressed 6 years!

I kind of felt like Rip Van Winkle!!
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Sun and 65 degrees came out at 2:00 so I went out and finished up my garden clean up.  Ripped out all the annuals on the porch pots, put the pots away in the shed, along with garden ornaments, porch furniture and rug.  Filled bird feeders and put my snow shovel on the porch.  Sure looks bare out there!

August

October 21st.

Instead of making 4 back-breaking trips to the storage shed in back, I decided I could do it in two.  

At times I am a lazy idiot!!  Hurt my shoulder again.  Back hurts, but it wouldn't have hurt anymore after 4 trips than it did after 2.
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So Joe Biden finally made a decision.  Shoot!  I wanted someone around to harass Hiliary and the communist socialist Bernie.  Democrats campaign is going to be so boring!

On the other side of the fence, Paul Ryan says he doesn't want to be Speaker of the House and is making so many demands so neither caucus will nominate him.  I hope he doesn't take that office, I think it would really ruin his life.  He seems to be such a nice young man. 

The Republicans have a Freedom Caucus and a Liberty Caucus.  Compromised of about 40-80 members of the GOP.  Freedom Caucus is ultra Conservative, Tea Party I think and the Liberty Caucus not much difference.  I don't like either of these Cauci.  What happened to the Moderates when you need them?
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In other news--I am over the emotional roller coaster I was on for two weeks.  3.5 years out and I was grieving for Fred more than I ever did that first awful year.  Tears just came at the most inopportune time.  Visiting The Farm.  Talking to Pearl.  Sitting in my chair watching TV.  At night, when I went to bed.  This weepiness wasn't brought on by memories of Fred.  I don't know what brought it on!  It was so crazy that I thought I WAS going crazy.  

Days--even weeks can go by and I don't think of him.  I have nothing in my house that is a constant reminder of him.  It's not like I am still cleaning out his "stuff"--that was done the first month after he died.  I don't know what brought it on, but I sure am glad I am over it!!!
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Speaking of Fred--although this has not one thing to do with him---there is a young man that manages the gas station up the road--where I get gas for the car and milk or supplies sometimes.  I see him every time I go inside.  His name is Jeff and we always say "Hi" and "How ya doing".

Yesterday at the Food Bank, he was there volunteering.  I was kind of embarrassed to see someone I knew who would thus know that I am poor, but he greeted me and pushed my cart out to my car and loaded the stuff into the trunk.

I thanked him and then he asked, "Ya wanna go out for a beer some night?"

I was stunned and shocked, but managed to squeak out, "Thanks, but no.  I don't..dah.... drink."  I meant to say "date", but then realized that he's too young to be asking me on a date and changed the words before they came out of my mouth.

He might be 50!    Most of my kids are older than he is!  So, of course, for the rest of the day I wondered, "What was his motive?"  I have become so suspicious in my old age.  He certainly knows I don't have any money if I am begging at the Food Bank.  Is he looking for a Mother figure?  A Grandma?  He knew Fred so perhaps he thinks the lonely widow would be craving some hot sex?

Creeped me out and now I want to go to a different gas station so I don't ever have to see him again.

GEEZ OH PETE!!

Dar keeps trying to foist me off on her father. He told her that I was a "fine looking woman" and wondered if I would be interested.   

Aren't I lucky?  I either have a 94 year old interested in taking me out to supper or a 50 year old wanting to take me out for a beer, or the neighbor's husband (Merle) who tries to get a hug so he can put his hand on the side of my boob!
Excuse me now--I have to go throw up!

A Mixed Bag of Tricks

What a day!!

I had one bag of leaves out for the yard waste people to pick-up today.  Meant to get all my annuals pulled up and in another bag--missed it.  Oh well, I will have to wait for two weeks for their next pick-up.

An appointment at the food bank at 11:30.  Found a nice bag of fresh vegetable mix: cauliflower, broccoli, baby carrots.  Another bag of fresh lettuce salad makings.  A nice pouch of chicken, to put in the salad and a small beef English Cut roast to add to the veggies.  Nice container of Muskmelon spears--nowadays, it is called Cantaloupe.  One cinnamon roll, detergent, toilet paper and 1# sugar.  No cat litter this time--drats!!  

Up to Wal-Mart to get some milk, Diet Pepsi and mailing boxes.--$23.67

Home to watch Soap and then up to Pearl's.

I quit fighting with Face Book on trying to retrieve her password.  Plus her old e-mail addy was in there as her user name.

I jumped into gmail and made her an account.  

Then back to Face Book to set up a new account, sent a bunch of friend requests and found her games.

Set up a new account with new gmail address and new password at her bank.

Set up (partially) an Amazon.com account.  Watch out world!!!
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While I was there, Dar and her Dad walked into Pearl's.

"I'm hunting for Judy.  Is she here?"

Pearl said, "She's back in the bedroom, working on my computer."

So Dar walks all the way back and says, "Go home now.  Dad and I want to visit you."

"I can't just yet.  I gotta get this finished."

"Okay."  and she goes back out into the living room to chat with Merle and Pearl.

I stopped what I was doing and walked out to the living room.

"I got your Face Book going, Pearl.  I gotta go home and put away my groceries and take some Alka Seltzer, my stomach is bad."

I waited until I saw Dar and her Dad leave--watching to see if they were coming this way.  They weren't.  They got in the car and drove away, so I hot-footed it back up to Pearl's to finish the computer job.

"Thanks a lot!  Running away so I had to entertain!"

"Hey--she was bugging the heck out of me."

"She acted like she wanted to talk, but there's no conversation with that woman!  It's all about her.  I asked her Dad two questions, which she answered for him."

"Yeah.  I know.  She has done that to me before.  I was talking with her and her friend Sheila and Sheila asked me a question and Dar answered for me.  Then another question, which Dar answered.  I turned to her and said, 'Dar, I am perfectly capable of answering for myself.' "

"I like her father though."

"Yeah--he's pretty cool."
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I forgot to tell you I got the clothes in my bedroom closet switched around for winter and while in there, drained and flushed the water heater.

No, that's not blood.  Rust out of the tank. 
Plus lime you can't see.

Tonight John and Maisey stopped by for a Porch Chat.  It was so warm today and this evening.  John and I got to laughing so hard, I hope the neighbors didn't wonder what was going on!

John said that he saw Dar this morning on his walk and she was sighing and carrying on about her father visiting her for "Three weeks!  I had planned on two, but now...my brother has extended his vacation, so I have to have Dad for three weeks!"